Winter X Games 15: Women’s Superpipe Finals Video & Recap

January 30, 2011

Video: Justin GunsonPhotos: Chris WellhausenWords: AH

The question was on everyone’s lips: will we see the 1080 from Kelly Clark? Stomping the first 1080 in women’s halfpipe history earlier this week, the stage was set to debut the trick in Saturday night’s Finals. But that’s not all—the almost inaugural rematch between Kelly and Aspen-native Gretchen Bleiler once again drew a huge crowd to the base of the pipe, as locals and fans gathered to see the ladies air from the 22-footer.

The showdown quite didn’t live up to the hype this time around, as Gretchen took on of the gnarliest slams seen in years during his opening run. True to form, she would still return to the top for her last two runs, but would slip out and finish out of the medals. At night’s end, Elena Hight took the Bronze, Kaitlyn Farrington the Silver, and Kelly Clark, who stuck the 1080 clean in her final run, would earn her third X Games Gold Medal. For Kelly, it’s about time someone asks the question: “G.O.A.T.?” Coming hot off her recent win at the Killington Winter Dew Tour, the Vermonter looks almost unbeatable once again, launching higher, traveling farther, and grabbing longer than anyone else in the game. Her first run score of 92.33 would be more than enough to lock up another Gold, and has her leaving Aspen/Snowmass as the reigning force in women’s Superpipe.